New plant to convert waste cooking oil into aviation biofuel

Up to 500 million gallons of aviation biofuel will be made from waste cooking oil at a new demonstration facility in China.

The China-US Aviation Biofuel Pilot Project, which is sponsored by Boeing and Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), will use technology developed by Hangzhou Energy & Engineering Technology Company (HEET) to clean contaminants from waste oils and convert it into jet fuel at a rate of 160 gallons per day.

According to Boeing, the project’s goal is to assess the technical feasibility and cost of producing higher volumes of biofuel.

Biofuel produced by the China-U.S. Aviation Biofuel Pilot Project is expected to meet international specifications approved in 2011 for jet fuel made from plant oils and animal fats. This type of biofuel has already been used for more than 1,600 commercial flights.

Sustainably produced biofuel, which is said to reduce carbon emissions by 50 to 80 per cent compared to petroleum through its lifecycle, is expected to play a key role in supporting aviation’s growth while meeting environmental goals.

The Boeing Current Market Outlook has forecast that China will require more than 6,000 new airplanes by 2033 to meet passenger demand for domestic and international air travel.

Boeing and COMAC have been collaborating since 2012 to support the growth of China’s commercial aviation industry. Their Boeing-COMAC Aviation Energy Conservation and Emissions Reductions Technology Center in Beijing works with Chinese universities and research institutions to expand knowledge in areas that improve aviation’s efficiency, such as aviation biofuel and air traffic management.